Cyclists posed for a quick snapshot to thank all their donors while at the rest stop in Wykoff on Friday morning. PAULA VAGTS/SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE

Riders participating in the Habitat 500 called Kingsland High School gym home for two nights of their 500-mile journey. PAULA VAGTS/SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE

While most of the riders spent the night in the Kingsland High School gym, some decided to make their camp just outside on the school lawn. PAULA VAGTS/SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE

As the 120 cyclists rested, their bikes were stored throughout the halls at Kingsland. PAULA VAGTS/SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE

As her husband, Nathan, and daughter, Marjorie, cycle their way through southeastern Minnesota, Sara Thompson, a 12-year volunteer, makes creative treats for the riders to enjoy during rest stops, such as this in Wykoff. PAULA VAGTS/SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE

Riders braved the thick fog on Friday morning as they made their way to the Kingsland Middle School in Wykoff for the first rest stop of their 70-mile journey to Kasson. PAULA VAGTS/SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE

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Tuesday, July 21, 2015 9:29 AM

Spring Valley was filled with bicyclists last week as the 23rd annual Habitat 500 Bike Ride travelled through town.The ride raises awareness and funds to support Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota.

A special traveling Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) exhibit, “Coming of Age, The 1968 Generation,” will be on display at the Fillmore County History Center (FCHC) from Tuesday, July 7, through Oct. 3. A special opening reception will be held at the history center at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 9.

“We’re ‘Celebrating 30 Years of Relay, ‘80s Style’,” stated Deb Jorgenson, Chatfield co-chair of the 2015 Fillmore County Relay for Life, set for July 10 and 11 in Chatfield’s City Park. She and co-organizer Wendy Kirchner are excited about everything that’s happening during the 30th annual Fillmore County Relay because they can get out their hair gel, their Cyndi Lauper and Madonna tapes, bangle bracelets and earrings and hit the Relay track in their jelly shoes. They’re girls who just wanna have fun…with their families.

“I’ve always done nonprofit work. The position I had before I moved to Minnesota in 2006 was as director of resource development for a domestic violence and sexual assault center that had a shelter, housing onsite and offsite. It wasn’t a faith-based organization, but it was supported a lot by churches, so there was a remarkable sense of pastoral care and hope, sanctuary, of sorts, even though it wasn’t a faith-based organization. I missed being where I could see (the results) of working with people, so I finished my master’s degree in nonprofit management, and it was like the stars aligned, like I was in the right place at the right time,” stated Parks, interim director at Good Earth Village (GEV) outside of Spring Valley.

“I am very thankful and feel blessed to be in remission,” stated Chatfield resident Michelle Pederson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2009. She will be the guest speaker at the Fillmore County Relay for Life’s Survivors’ Tea on Friday evening as the Relay is held the weekend of July 10 to 11 in Chatfield’s City Park.

On June 10, 1915, the Rushford Creamery observed its official grand opening. Construction of the large stone building was actually completed on Feb. 18, 1915, but creamery officials decided the weather might be more conducive for a grand opening celebration the second week of June instead of February.

The State Scenic Byway Commission will be coming to southeastern Minnesota on Thursday, June 18, to meet with representatives of communities along the National Scenic Byway, Highway 16, as well as interested persons and businesses, announced the Historic Bluff Country board of directors.

Two persons with ties to the Rushford-Peterson area are about to see a dream come true. Leslie Nelson, who served as the pastor of the Root River Community Church in Rushford for seven years, and Daniel Ostrem, a 2007 graduate of Rushford-Peterson High School, co-wrote a screenplay for a feature film that will be airing in movie theaters in southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa in June.